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Do you avoid taking risks because you fear failure? Maybe you shy away from making decisions and hide away hoping that others won't notice you. These are all signs of low self-confidence, and often, over time, they can harm your self-esteem and your mental health. But self-confidence can be learned just like any other skill, and there's a lot you can do to boost yours. First, picture someone you think of as highly confident. What is it about them that makes you see them this way? Most likely, it's something to do with how they speak, their energy, their expertise, or knowledge. You can demonstrate self-confidence in a similar way by paying attention to your [body language](https://www.mindtools.com/aafp6u2/5-moves-to-master-body-language-infographic), what you say, and how you say it. For example, when we feel under-confident, we tend to shrink in on ourselves or slouch to make ourselves look smaller. Project self-confidence by sitting up straight. Or, if you're presenting, spread your hands apart with palms slightly open towards your audience to demonstrate openness and connection. When talking to people, maintain eye contact. This shows you're interested in what the other person is saying, and that you are taking an active part in the conversation. Avoid fidgeting or looking away, as this can make you appear distracted or anxious. ###### Access the essential membership for Modern Managers [Try for Free](https://www.mindtools.com/signup/) Google Advert [Download transcript](https://nova-live-content.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/transcript-bee2e819-38f2-4258-8326-9c0a36d418c4.txt) Preparation breeds confidence. When you know your subject matter inside out, you'll feel and look more confident. So take time to research your subject matter thoroughly. If you lack confidence because of a gap in your knowledge, think about what you can do to build your skills. Could you sign up for a training course or attend a relevant webinar, for example? Also, review your past achievements. Chances are you'll feel more confident if you are able to say, "Yes, I can do that, and here's the evidence." Start by listing 10 things you're most proud of. This could be inside or outside of work. Then use these to make positive [affirmations](https://www.mindtools.com/air49f4/using-affirmations) like, "I know I'm good at planning, because I hit all my targets last quarter." These statements are particularly powerful if you tend to undermine your confidence with negative self-talk. Finally, set some confidence-boosting goals. For example, you could say, "I'm going to make sure I contribute to every meeting I attend next month, even if it's in a small way." These goals may push you outside your [comfort zone](https://www.mindtools.com/a6t20su/the-learning-zone-model-video), but self-confident people take risks, even if it means they might make a mistake. You may even find that new doors open for you as a result. When you are [self-confident](https://www.mindtools.com/ap5omwt/how-to-build-self-confidence), you trust your own judgment and abilities, you believe in yourself and have a strong sense of self-worth. So think about one thing you can do today, no matter how small, to boost your self-confidence. ### Share this post ### Discover more content [](https://www.mindtools.com/affrpue/dealing-with-difficult-situations/) article 4 Minutes ### [Dealing With Difficult Situations](https://www.mindtools.com/affrpue/dealing-with-difficult-situations/) Here we outline how to prepare for situations where you feel you might lose your confidence. [Read now](https://www.mindtools.com/affrpue/dealing-with-difficult-situations/) [](https://www.mindtools.com/aioav52/top-tips-for-being-assertive-not-aggressive/) article 4 Minutes ### [Top Tips For Being Assertive Not Aggressive](https://www.mindtools.com/aioav52/top-tips-for-being-assertive-not-aggressive/) There's a fine line between being positively assertive and negatively aggressive. These tips will help keep you on the right side of the line. [Read now](https://www.mindtools.com/aioav52/top-tips-for-being-assertive-not-aggressive/) [](https://www.mindtools.com/aijhjqd/top-ten-confidence-hacks/) article 5 Minutes ### [Top 10 Confidence Hacks](https://www.mindtools.com/aijhjqd/top-ten-confidence-hacks/) Turn ‘I can’t’ into ‘I can’ with these ten simple tips. 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Do you ever find yourself worrying about what other people think of you? Do you avoid taking risks because you fear failure? Maybe you shy away from making decisions and hide away hoping that others won't notice you. These are all signs of low self-confidence, and often, over time, they can harm your self-esteem and your mental health. But self-confidence can be learned just like any other skill, and there's a lot you can do to boost yours. First, picture someone you think of as highly confident. What is it about them that makes you see them this way? Most likely, it's something to do with how they speak, their energy, their expertise, or knowledge. You can demonstrate self-confidence in a similar way by paying attention to your [body language](https://www.mindtools.com/aafp6u2/5-moves-to-master-body-language-infographic), what you say, and how you say it. For example, when we feel under-confident, we tend to shrink in on ourselves or slouch to make ourselves look smaller. Project self-confidence by sitting up straight. Or, if you're presenting, spread your hands apart with palms slightly open towards your audience to demonstrate openness and connection. When talking to people, maintain eye contact. This shows you're interested in what the other person is saying, and that you are taking an active part in the conversation. Avoid fidgeting or looking away, as this can make you appear distracted or anxious. Google Advert Preparation breeds confidence. When you know your subject matter inside out, you'll feel and look more confident. So take time to research your subject matter thoroughly. If you lack confidence because of a gap in your knowledge, think about what you can do to build your skills. Could you sign up for a training course or attend a relevant webinar, for example? Also, review your past achievements. Chances are you'll feel more confident if you are able to say, "Yes, I can do that, and here's the evidence." Start by listing 10 things you're most proud of. This could be inside or outside of work. Then use these to make positive [affirmations](https://www.mindtools.com/air49f4/using-affirmations) like, "I know I'm good at planning, because I hit all my targets last quarter." These statements are particularly powerful if you tend to undermine your confidence with negative self-talk. Finally, set some confidence-boosting goals. For example, you could say, "I'm going to make sure I contribute to every meeting I attend next month, even if it's in a small way." These goals may push you outside your [comfort zone](https://www.mindtools.com/a6t20su/the-learning-zone-model-video), but self-confident people take risks, even if it means they might make a mistake. You may even find that new doors open for you as a result. When you are [self-confident](https://www.mindtools.com/ap5omwt/how-to-build-self-confidence), you trust your own judgment and abilities, you believe in yourself and have a strong sense of self-worth. So think about one thing you can do today, no matter how small, to boost your self-confidence.